5 Mindfulness Activities for Young Children

Mindfulness can be defined as paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.  Research indicates that mindfulness techniques in school aged children can help to improve: sense of wellbeing, ability to focus, relaxation and self regulation.  Although mindfulness practices have not been studied in younger children (i.e. preschoolers) extensively, young children do experience a fast paced, hurried, high pressure, high technology lifestyle and mindfulness techniques may help young children’s well being in school and at home.

Here are 5 mindfulness activities for young children:

1. yoga poses for children
2. guided meditation and visualization – try this Triathlon imagination action journey that combines visualization with movement.
3. reflective breathing – try bumble bee breathing
4. specific games designed to support children’s deeper awareness of their own feelings and thoughts.
5. specific games designed to support children’s deeper awareness of their own behaviors and reactions.  Read about 10 games that help to develop self regulation skills.

Read more on Mindfulness and Yoga for School Children.

Read more on Sensory Processing Styles and Mindfulness.

Read more on Self Regulation and Yoga in Preschoolers.

Read more about self regulation skills or check out the Self Regulation Skills Curriculum – Work, Move, Breathe.

Reference:  Erwin, E. J., Robinson, K. A., McGrath, G. S., & Harney, C. J. (2017). “It’s Like Breathing In Blue Skies and Breathing Out Stormy Clouds” Mindfulness Practices in Early Childhood. Young Exceptional Children, 20(2), 69-85.

Breathing Breaks: This digital download is a collection of 16 deep breathing exercises and 3 tip sheets. Deep breathing exercises can help to decrease stress, reduce anxiety, remain calm, strengthen sustained attention, sharpen the ability to learn and more! This packet includes 16 full page breathing exercises and 3 tips sheets in color or black and white. In addition, the breathing exercises are provided 4 to a page to make smaller cards or booklets.  FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION.

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10 Games to Play with Plastic Easter Eggs

Do you have loads of plastic Easter eggs from the holiday? Here are 10 games to play with plastic Easter eggs:

1. Sensory Table Accessories: Separate the plastic eggs. Children can use them to dig in sand, beans or other tactile items. Put them in the water table. Some of the eggs have holes in the bottom and the water will drip out. Kids can cup the egg in one hand and pour water into with the other.

2. Seek and Match: Take several eggs of the same color. Using permanent marker, draw circles on one egg, dots on another one, triangles, etc. Separate the eggs and hide them. The kids have to find each half of the egg and match it up with the correct pattern.

3. Egg and Spoon Race: This old favorite is a relay race. Try to balance the egg on a wooden spoon and walk a certain distance. Don’t let the egg drop off.

4. Egg and Hand Race: Have children complete an easy obstacle course holding one egg in each hand. The child has to cup the egg gently in the hand (encouraging an open web space) and don’t drop the eggs.

5. Mini Golf Egg Race: Using small toy golf clubs, hit the egg through different obstacles.

6. Bucket Eggs: This is good if you have a LOT of eggs and a few kids. Separate the kids into two teams. Put a bucket in the middle of the yard. Assign each team certain colors i.e. team one is red and green eggs and team two is yellow and purple eggs. Scatter all the eggs around the yard. On “GO” each team must grab the correct color egg and toss it in the bucket. At the end of 1 minute whoever has the most eggs in the bucket wins.

7. Smelly Eggs: You will need the plastic eggs that have the holes in the bottom for this activity. Put different scents in each eggs i.e. cinnamon, cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract or lemon juice, lavender, etc. The child has to guess what scent is inside each egg.

8. Noisy Eggs: Put different small objects inside an egg such as rice, beans, dice, jellybeans, etc. Seal it shut with strong tape. The child can guess what is inside. Or make two sets of the noisy eggs and the child can match the eggs up with the matching sounds.

9. Egg Soup: Take a bunch of plastic eggs and separate them. Pretend to make egg soup. Add the eggs into a big plastic bowl. Practice stirring the eggs. When done, match up the eggs and place them in a small bowl to serve up your pretend soup.

10. Egg Color Hunt: Hide four different colored eggs in the yard or indoors. Announce to the child to find the eggs in a certain order in a certain amount of time. For example: Find pink, purple, green and yellow in 2 minutes or less. Child has to find eggs in that exact order.

Now, who has any ideas for leftover dyed, hard boiled Easter eggs besides egg salad?

If you are looking for more games for Easter fun, check out Easter Games for Family Fun.

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